APC Community Mock Draft - The Dolphins are up at 18 with their second pick of round 1

As the APC Community Mock draft continues, the Las Vegas Raiders went with offensive line help at 17, as they were able to replace Trent Brown with Teven Jenkins, the offensive tackle from Oklahoma State. While he may have to move to guard due to short arms for a tackle, Jenkins is a toolsy prospect who can be a mainstay up front for the Raiders and Derek Carr. His power in the run game and athleticism when reaching the second level will be a welcome sight for Josh Jacobs as well.

Now, the Dolphins are back with their second first-rounder of the draft. This pick will depend on what they do with the first, of course. Our mock has the Dolphins selecting Ja’Marr Chase at 6, so WR is likely out of the question here. In free agency, Miami brought Malcolm Brown into their young and inexperienced running back room. But it is likely they add a workhorse back in the draft, making Najee Harris an appealing option here. Edge rusher is another critical need for the Dolphins, as they’ve struggled to solidify the spot across from Emmanuel Ogbah. After trading Shaq Lawson and releasing Kyle Van Noy, Miami’s 2nd and 3rd most productive pass rushers are gone. Miami has a shot at getting the top edge rusher in the draft with this pick and will certainly consider the position due to its lack of depth in this draft. First, we’ll take a look at the previous picks in our mock.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
2. New York Jets - Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
3. San Francisco 49ers - Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
4. Atlanta Falcons - Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
5. Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
6. Miami Dolphins - Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
7. Detroit Lions - DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
8. Carolina Panthers - Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
9. Denver Broncos - Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
10. Dallas Cowboys - Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama
11. New York Giants - Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
12. Philadelphia Eagles - Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
13. Los Angeles Chargers - Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
14. Minnesota Vikings - Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC
15. New England Patriots - Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
16. Arizona Cardinals - Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
17. Las Vegas Raiders - Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma State

Who will the Dolphins consider with the 18th pick?

Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

Think Rashan Gary 2.0. Paye is almost as impressive an athlete as Gary was coming out in 2019, though Paye is a bit smaller at 6-foot-2-½ and 261 pounds to Gary’s 6-foot-4, 277-pound frame. Still, the two players share similarities in that they both had production that did not quite live up to their pro projections, with Paye’s 2020 limited to four games by injury and the COVID pandemic. Still, Paye averaged one TFL per game over his last two seasons and posted 8.5 sacks in his last 16 games, and it’s not hard to imagine a team falling in love with his tools the way the Packers did with Gary.

Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa

As a junior in 2020, Collins burst onto the scene and into the minds of scouts and draftniks alike. In 8 games, Collins racked up two forced fumbles, four sacks, and four interceptions (two of which he returned for touchdowns). At 6-foot-5 and almost 260 pounds, he’s big enough to play on the edge but fast and explosive enough to play off the ball, with a similar skill set to Anthony Barr in Minnesota.

Najee Harris, RB, Alabama

A good bet to be the first running back taken in 2021, Harris was the bell-cow back for the Crimson Tide for the last two years. He’s a big back capable of running over or around defenders (or even leaping over them). Harris is also an adept receiver out of the backfield, as he caught 70 passes combined in the past two seasons. He projects as an every-down back capable of starting on day one.

With the 18th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select…

We may see a reunion in Miami with Najee Harris and Tua Tagovailoa if the Dolphins opt for their second SEC weapon of the draft. However, both Kwity Paye and Zaven Collins could provide a pass-rushing boost and some versatility to an already solid defense. Tomorrow, we’ll run down the Washington Football Team’s options at pick 19 at 11 AM EST. At 4 PM EST, we’ll be focusing on the third NFC North team so far, the Chicago Bears at pick 20. Check back tomorrow to vote here and on Twitter @acmepackingco.